Victor J. Stenger

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Victor J. Stenger
UCLA
SpousePhylliss Marcia Stenger (m. 1962)[2]
ChildrenNoelle Green, Victor Andrew[1]
Scientific career
FieldsParticle physics, philosophy
ThesisLow Energy K+d Scattering and the I=0 KN Interaction[1] (1963)
Doctoral advisorHarold K. Ticho

Victor John Stenger (

philosopher, author, and religious skeptic
.

Following a career as a

An advocate for removing the influence of religion from scientific research, commercial activity, and the political process,[4] Stenger coined the quote: "Science flies you to the moon. Religion flies you into buildings".[5]

Personal life

Victor J. Stenger was born on January 29, 1935, and raised in a working-class neighborhood of

Hungarian immigrants.[2] He died on August 25, 2014, at the age of 79.[6]

Career

Education and employment

Stenger attended public schools in Bayonne, New Jersey, and received a

He was a member of the Department of Physics at the

Scientist

Stenger's first peer-reviewed work was published in 1964, and his research career continued until his retirement in 2000. His research involved work that determined properties of

]

Philosopher and skeptic

Stenger was an advocate of

supernatural phenomena, writing several books and articles to debunk contemporary pseudoscience.[11]

Stenger took part in the 2008 "Origins Conference" hosted by the

]

In 1992, Uri Geller sued Stenger and Prometheus Books for $4 million, claiming defamation for questioning his "psychic powers." The suit was dismissed and Geller was ordered to pay court costs.[13]

Astronomer Luke Barnes argued in a 2012 paper that many of Stenger's claims about fine-tuning were problematic and that his arguments were fallacious.[14] Stenger responded that Barnes misunderstood and misrepresented his positions.[15]

Professional and community positions

Publications by Stenger

Books for general audiences

Peer-reviewed articles

Other essays

Columnist

From 1998 to 2011 Stenger wrote for the column "Reality Check," in Skeptical Briefs, the quarterly newsletter of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI).[17]

Since August 2010, he was also a regularly featured science columnist for the

Huffington Post.[3][18]

Pantheon of skeptics

Stenger has been included in CSI's Pantheon of Skeptics. The Pantheon of Skeptics was created by CSI to remember the legacy of deceased fellows of CSI and their contributions to the cause of scientific skepticism.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b Stenger, Victor John. "Curriculum Vitae" (PDF). University of Colorado. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b "A Biography of Victor J. Stenger". Colorado.edu. Retrieved 2013-07-29.
  3. ^
    Skeptics Society
    .
  4. ^ Stenger, Victor J. (9 March 2012). "The Fall of Foolish Faith". Huffington Post. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Science flies you to the moon. Religion flies you into buildings. - Victor Stenger - RichardDawkins.net". Old.richarddawkins.net. 2009-02-01. Retrieved 2013-07-29.
  6. ^ Mehta, Hemant. "Victor Stenger, Physicist and Prolific Atheist Author, is Dead at 79". Patheos. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  7. ^ a b "[Denver] Victor Stenger: "God: The Failed Hypothesis"". Center for Inquiry. Archived from the original on 2015-09-08. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  8. ^ "Quantum Metaphysics". Colorado.edu. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  9. ^ "Victor Stenger - God: The Failed Hypothesis". Point of Inquiry. 2007-03-02. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  10. ^ Vic Stenger (2008-08-19). "Victor J. Stenger". Colorado.edu. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  11. The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Archived from the original
    on 2014-04-11. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  12. ^ "ORIGINS — the BIG Questions: 2008 Skeptics Society Conference: Dr. Victor Stenger". Origins.skeptic.com. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  13. ^ "Uri Geller Libel Suit Dismissed". Skeptical Inquirer. August 1994. Archived from the original on 2008-02-11.
  14. S2CID 2951263
    .
  15. ].
  16. ^ "CSI Board, Fellows, and Staff". Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  17. ^ "Skeptical Briefs — Reality Check". 2 June 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  18. ^ "Entries by Victor Stenger". Huffington Post. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  19. ^ "The Pantheon of Skeptics". CSI. Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.

External links